Contracting band cap re-applier



Dec. 22, 1964 c; BREER 3,162,002

COIITRACTING BAND CAP RE-APPLIBR Filed Dec. 3, 19$? a a y 4/ hillllllll 1 I INVENTOR United States Patent Ofihce 3,162,002 (IQNTRA-CTING BAND CAI RE-APPLIER Carl Breer, 1560!) Windmill Points Drive, Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,831 7 (Claims. (Cl. 53-363) This invention relates to a combination cap removing and cap applying device.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a cap removing and reapplying device having a contractible spring band associated therewith such that caps may be reapplied to the container necks from which they have been removed by a quick, easy, cap sealing operation involving the use of a pliers-type tool to clinch the cap sides about the neck spout by contraction of the spring band.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cap applying tool that utilizes a contractible, substantially G- shaped, spring band to clinch the scalloped cap side walls about the outer periphery of the spout neck of a container.

It is still another object of this invention to combine a lever type, cap-removing, pry lever with an oscillatable lever pivotally mounted on the pry lever and connected thereto through a C-shaped spring band.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a cap reapplying tool that has a magnet associated therewith to hold the cap in position prior to and while it is being applied to the container neck or spout.

It is still another object of this invention to use a substantially C-shaped band spring for the dual functions of clinching the cap sides and also normally springing the pliers lever members to open position.

ther objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and a consideration of the related drawing figures where- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cap removing and reapplying tool that embodies this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the tool shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken along the line of and in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along the line of and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the capping band released;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the positions of the capper parts when the contractible spring band has been contracted about the cap sides to reapply the cap to a container neck portion; and

FIG. 5 is another fragmentary sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the capper tool parts when the cap holding magnet has been operated to release the cap therefrom.

FIG. 1 shows a pliers-type tool T comprising a pair of pivotally connected levers 1t) and 11 rotatably joined near their head ends by a pivot bolt element 12. Bolt 12 has a hollow stem 12a in which is reciprocably mounted a rod or bar type magnet 13. Magnet 13 has a stop collar 15 of non-magnetizable material fixed to its lower end to limit the upward movement of the magnet 13 in the bolt stem bore 12a (see FIG. 5). Fixed to the upper end of the magnet rod 13 is a non-magnetizable cap or head 16. The head 16 can be grasped to reciprocate the magnet rod 3,l2,2 Patented Dec. 22,, 1964 13in the bolt stem bore 12a for a purpose that will be subsequently explained.

Lever arm 11! has a depending flange 10;; along one side and at each end. This flange 10a provides a partial cuplike formation 21 at the head end of the lever 19. Fixedly connected to the underside of the lever 10 within the cup like formation 21 is a disc plate 23 that has a depending arcuate flange 24- integral therewith. The disc plate 23 with its depending flange 24 could be formed as an in tegral part of the lever 10 if desired. However, by the use of separate connected pieces it is possible to form the plate 23 from a good bearing material such as brass or bronze to facilitate pivotal operation of this pliers-type cap removing and cap applying tool. The flange 24 on the disc plate 23 provides an anchor member to seat one end 35 of the contractible spring hand S that will be subsequently described. 7

The lever 11 has a substantially complete cup-like formation 31 formed on and projecting upwardly from the head end thereof. The side wall of the cup-like formation 31 is omitted along one portion of the cup periphery to provide a space within which the disc plate flange portion 24 can circumferentially reciprocate during a cap applying operation. FIGS. 3 and 4 are thought to clearly bring this out. The side walls of the cup formation 31 define a substantially C-shaped formation that receives the substantially C-shaped spring band S that is a principal part of the invention. One end of the spring S is reversely bent to provide a bight portion 34 to anchor on the end 310 of the cup-like formation 31 on lever 11. The other end 35 of the spring S is reversely bent upon itself to provide the bight formation to anchor on the stop formation 24 that is carried by the lever 10. It is thought to be clear from the prior description that if the levers 10, 11 are squeezed together, as indicated by the arrows 46 in FIG. 1, that then the spring ends 34, 35 will move circumferentially from the positions shown in FIG. 3 to the positions shown in FIG. 4. During this circumferential movement the C-shaped spring S will be radially contracted as is indicated by the change in clearances between the inner circumference of the spring S and the outer periphery of the cap C as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This radial contraction of the spring S produces a substantially equal radially inwardly directed pressure against the crimped side flanges 41 of the cap C that sealingly conmeets the cap C to the upper end of the container spout 47. Not only is the spring S used as the cap flange contracting means, but it also serves as an expansion spring to return the levers 10, 11 to their expanded positions of FIG. 1. This spring S is a dual function element that materially simplifies the structure of this combination cap removing and cap applying tool.

The bottom wall 310 of the cup-like formation 31 on lever 11 has an upstanding centrally located, collar 31 that is threaded on its inner surface. This collar 31 projects through a mating bore in the disc plate 23 and through a similar bore in the lever 10. The pivot bolt 12 is threadably engaged with the threaded collar 31) to connect the lever 16 to the lever 11 with the bearing metal disc plate 23 located between and spacing the pivotally connected portions of the levers 10, 11.

In order to easily determine whether there is a cap C within the G-shaped cup 31, a plurality of holes 51 are bored through the overlying plates 19, 23 and 31c. It is thought to be obvious that as the levers 10, 11 are squeezed together that the relative rotational movement between the disc plate 23 on lever 10 and the bottom 316 of the cup-like formation 31 on the lever ll will tend to close off the passageways through the aligned bores 51.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be clear that if a cap C is placed within the cup-like formation 31 on the underside of the lever 11, as shown in FIG. 3, that the scalloped sides 41 of the cap C will be surrounded by but spaced inwardly from the concentrically arranged C-shaped band spring S. As the cap C is usually made from a magnetizable metal the lower end of the magnet bar 13 attracts the cap top and holds the cap C within the C-shaped cup 31 for as long as desired. The cap C may then be placed over the end of a container spout 47, see FIG. 2, because the cap side walls are slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the spout 47. After positioning the cap C on the spout 47 then the levers 10, 11 are squeezed together, as indicated by the arrows 40 in FIG. 1, and the band spring S will contract about the cap sidewalls 41 and clinch the sidewalls 41 into sealed engagement with the sides of the spout 47. Thereafter the knob 16 that carries the magnet bar 13, see FIGS. '2 and S, is grasped and pulled upwardly to disconnect the top of cap C from the bottom end of the magnet bar 13. This disconnection results flOIIl the retraction of the lower end of the magnet bar 13 upwardly within the bore 12a of the pivot bolt 12 (see FIG. As previously pointed out the band spring S not only acts to clinch the cap sides 41 about the spout neck 47, but in addition the spring S acts to expand the levers 10, 11 when squeeze pressure is released therefrom. The prime advantage of the dual function spring S during its cap applying function is the fact that an equal contracting pressure is applied to the cap sidewalls 41 throughout the entire circumference of the cap. This uniform cap applying force assures an airtight connection of the cap C to the neck spout 47.

While the description so far has been concerned with the novel cap applying means, still, this tool also includes a pry-type cap removing portion associated with the lever 11. It will be noted that the lever 11, at the point where it joins the inverted cup-like formation 31, is composed of a pair of overlying strips 11a and 11b (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The upper strip 11a terminates at the cup-like formation 31 while the end lie of the lower strip 11b project's radially into the cup area. As can be clearly seen from FIGS. 2-4, the end formation 110 on the lever 11 provides an arcuately shaped lip that can be positioned beneath the lower edge of the side walls 41 of the cap C so that an upward pivoting movement of the lever 11 about the cap top (see FIG. 2), in the direction indicated by the arrow 60, will pry off the cap C from the spout neck 47. In prying off the cap C the side walls 41 of the cap will be slightly expanded so that it is relatively easy to replace the cap C on the top of the spout neck 47 when it is desired to reapply the cap to the spout neck. After placing the cap C in the cup-like formation 31 of the lever 11 and positioning the cap C on the neck spout as shown in FIG; 2, then it is a simple operation to sealingly clinch the cap C to the neck spout by merely squeezing the levers 10, 11 together as indicated by the arrows 40 in FIG. 1. As previously mentioned the squeezing together of levers 10, 11 contracts the C-shaped spring S about the cap side walls 41 so that the side walls 41 are sealed to the sides of the spout neck 47. On release of squeezing pressure on the levers 10, 11 the contracted spring S expands and moves the levers 10, 11 to their normal expanded positions. a

I claim:

1. A cap applying tool comprising a first lever having a depending flange adjacent one end thereof, a second lever having a depending, substantially C-shaped cup formation at one end thereof, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the said ends of the levers with the flange on the ifirst lever positioned to fill a portion of the space between the end edges of the C-shaped cup formation of the second lever, a substantially C-shaped spring positioned concentrically within the cup-shaped formation of said second lever with one end anchored to the flange on said one lever and the other end anchored to the cup-shaped formation on the other lever, relative oscillatory movement of said levers about said pivot pin etiecting radial contracting movement of said spring band for clinching a cap on a spout.

2. A cap applying tool comprising a first lever having a depending flange adjacent one end thereof, a second lever having a depending, substantially C-shaped cup formation at one end thereof, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the said ends of the levers with the flange on the first lever positioned to fill a portion of the space between the end edges of the C-shaped cup formation of the second lever, a substantiallly C-shaped spring positioned concentrically within the cup-shaped formation of said second lever with one end anchored to the flange on said one lever and the other end anchored to the cup-shaped formation on the other lever, relative oscillatory movement of said levers about said pivot pin effecting radial contracting movement of said spring band for clinching a cap on a spout, and a magnet means mounted on at least one of said levers and positioned within the cup-shaped formation on said second lever adapted to releasably hold a cap within said cup-shaped formation.

3. In a cap applying tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said magnet member is movable along the axis of said pivot pin relative to at least one of said levers to provide means for effecting release of the cap from said magnet.

4. A cap applying tool comprising a first lever having a depending arcuate flange portion at the head end thereof, a second lever having a depending substantially C-shaped flange at the head end thereof, said levers being mounted with their head ends in overlying relationship and with the substantially C-shaped flange of the second lever arranged concentrically Within the arcuate flange of the first lever, pivot pin means connecting the head ends of the levers for relative rotation, at substantially C-shaped spring band arranged concentrically within the C-shaped flange of said second lever having one end portion anchored to the head end of the first lever and the other end portion of the spring band anchored to the head end of the second lever such that relative rotation between the lever head ends effects radial contraction and expansion of said C-shaped spring band whereby the side walls of a cap positioned within the spring band can be clinched about a spout member.

5. In a cap applying tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot pin means mounts a magnet means that will releasably hold a magnetizable cap within the C-shaped spring band.

6. A cap applying tool comprising a first lever having a depending arcuate flange portion at one end thereof, a second lever having a depending arcuate flange at one end thereof, said levers being mounted with said ends thereof in overlying relationship and with the arcuate flange of the second lever arranged concentrically with respect to the arcuate flange of the first lever, pivot pin means pivotally connecting said ends of the levers for relative rotation, an annular spring band arranged concentrically within the arcuate flanges of said levers having one end portion anchored to said end of the first lever and the other end portion of the spring band anchored to said end of the second lever such that relative rotation between said lever ends effects radial contraction and expansion of said spring band whereby the side walls of a cap positioned Within the spring band can be clinched about a spout member.

7. A cap applying tool comprising a first lever having a depending flange adjacent one end thereof, a second lever having a depending, substantially G-shaped cup formation at one end thereof, a pivot pin pivotally connecting the said flanged ends of the levers with the flange on the first lever positioned concentrically with respect to the C-shaped cup formation of the second lever, a substantially C-shaped spring positioned concentrically within the cup-shaped formation of said second lever with one end anchored to said one lever and the other end anchored to the other lever, relative oscillatory movement of'said levers about said pivot pin effecting radial contracting movement of said spring band for clinching a cap on a spout.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,210,399 1/17 Bearce et a1 7-14.6 X

1,355,020 10/20 Verret 813.43 5 1,492,908 5/24 Trumbo.

1,797,106 3/31 Sweeney 7l4.6 X

2,320,599 6/43 Hickman 813.43

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 10 MILTON s. MEI-IR, Examiner. 

1. CAP APPLYING TOOL COMPRISING A FIRST LEVER HAVING A DEPENDING FLANGE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, A SECOND LEVER HAVING A DEPENDING, SUBSTANTIALLY C-SHAPED CUP FORMATION AT ONE END THEREOF, A PIVOT PIN PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE SAID ENDS OF THE LEVERS WITH THE FLANGE ON THE FIRST LEVER POSITIONED TO FILL A PORTION OF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE END EDGES OF THE C-SHAPED CUP FORMATION OF THE SECOND LEVER, A SUBSTANTIALLY C-SHAPED SPRING POSITIONED CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN THE CUP-SHAPED FORMATION OF SAID SECOND LEVER WITH ONE END ANCHORED TO THE FLANGE ON SAID ONE LEVER AND THE OTHER END ANCHORED TO THE CUP-SHAPED FORMATION ON THE OTHER LEVER, RELATIVE OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVERS ABOUT SAID PIVOT PIN EFFECTING RADIAL CONTRACTING MOVEMENT OF SAID SPRING BAND FOR CLINCHING A CAP ON A SPOUT. 